EcoFlow Power Hat

USD $129.00 right now.

Your hat as a solar panel?

MIGHT work well if hiking many hours in a very sunny location.

EcoFlow says it’ll output a maximum of 5V / 2.4A, so you can expect it to keep your phone or tablet topped up rather than producing anything too life-saving. There’s no battery on board, naturally, so you’ll need to keep a long wire handy to run from your cap down to whichever pocket you keep your devices near.

Engadget

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My Drones CRASHING Montage 😀

I can laugh now — but each was traumatizing in the moment.

My first drone was the inexpensive Mavic Mini SE.

Though careful, I crashed it a LOT.

And finally killed it completely flying into the restaurant doors … twice.

Upgrading to the DJI Mini 4 Pro, I’m unlikely to crash. Often.

It has VERY good obstacle avoidance.

This montage includes perhaps half of my crashes.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Ausangate Trek, Peru – Guided

This site features the best independent hikes.

And we did hike our #1 trek in South America independently in 2005.

It wasn’t easy.

Adam and Kathryn signed on for a guided trek with AB Expeditions — and were VERY happy with the experience.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

50 Tips from an Experienced Hiker

Mowser lives in Tasmania, a very challenging hiking climate.

Over his 30+ years hiking and guiding, he’s made many mistakes. And seen many more.

If you watch this entire video, I guarantee there will be some tips you’ll take to heart for your next adventure.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

If you like those, here are a few more.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Lighthouse Country Regional Trail, Vancouver Island

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

#FakeNews. 😀 … There is no lighthouse on this inland trail.

Lighthouse Country is a tourist designation for a coastal region just north of Qualicum Beach consisting of smaller communities: Dashwood, Qualicum Bay, Dunsmuir, Bowser, and Deep Bay.

It’s named for the offshore lighthouses on Sisters Island and Chrome Island.


Lighthouse Country Regional Trail is an easy — family friendly — 5.6-km loop that takes an average of 1 h 23 min to complete.

The trail was dry and in great shape, even in chilly December.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

I did find the Nile Creek logging road less interesting than the portion closer to the ocean. You could walk north from the parking lot, then backtrack whenever you wish to enjoy the most scenic sections twice.

If you do the entire loop, feel free to call it the Lighthouse Loop.

There are other trails to explore aside from the loop, of course.

Though you don’t really need a map, I followed AllTrails.

related – nearby, more challenging, Nile Creek Trail

Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada

Born and raised in nearby Calgary, Alberta — Waterton is my favourite Canadian National Park. I’ve been there dozens of times over the decades.

Many tourists rush to Banff National Park, missing Waterton. And that’s a shame.

Campsites book quickly, so reserve early. Several months ahead.

Gemma and JR posted their advice:

… a three day Waterton Lakes National Park itinerary, based on our favourite experiences and the activities that I think showcase the best of the park. We’ve explored Waterton multiple times, across different seasons. …

For a quieter (and cheaper) trip, visit in mid/late May, June or September. 

  • national park pass is required to enter and explore Waterton Lakes National Park
  • From 19th June to 7th September 2026, there are no admission fees for national parks and national historic sites operated by Parks Canada (Canada Strong program)
  • Mid/late May to late September is the best time to visit
  • Facilities, trails and services are more limited outside of this time period, especially during the winter months
  • Reservations for the Townsite campground open in January each year. The date is usually revealed on this Parks Canada page in late November, early December
  • In 2017, a major wildfire swept through the western side of Waterton (39% of the park). Burned trees are still visible in many areas. Learn more about the fire at the Visitor Centre

Waterton Lakes National Park 3 Day Itinerary: Hiking, Wildlife and Waterfalls

Click PLAY or watch highlights on YouTube.

Across the border is Glacier National Park, Montana.

One of our top 10 hikes in the world is Glacier North Circle which can include both parks. You will see a lot of wildlife in both.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Best Hikes in Jamaica

Jamaica is not exactly renown for hiking.

But Paul Clammer posted a list of the 6 best hikes in Jamaica for tropical adventurers.

  • Oatley Mountain Trail
  • Blue Mountain Peak
  • Cockpit Country
  • One Love Trail
  • Troy–Windsor Trail
  • Mayfield Falls River Hike

Click PLAY or watch tourist highlights on YouTube.

Books for Hikers and Backpackers

The world’s most accomplished hiker, Cam Honan, has updated his list of BEST BOOKS for hikers. Expanded to include more than 90 works divided into eight categories: 1. Educational; 2. Guidebooks; 3. Humour; 4. Inspirational; 5. Literature; 6. Memoirs; 7. Philosophy, and; 8. Ultralight.

It includes his own wonderful and inspirational coffee table books.